Aquaphor and Vaseline are popular petroleum jelly-based products that treat and protect dry, itchy, and compromised skin.
Both brands produce a variety of products, from lotions and moisturizers to lip care and baby care. But in this article, we’ll focus on their flagship products: Aquaphor Healing Ointment and Vaseline Original.
How do they compare to each other, and which brand is better suited for your needs? Let’s find out.
This post contains affiliate links.
Aquaphor: A Brief Overview
Aquaphor is a skincare brand that aims to treat dry, irritated, and/or compromised skin, as well as post-operative wounds and defects.
Developed in 1925, Aquaphor primarily manufactures ointments, creams, and lip balms.
Aquaphor’s products are often recommended by dermatologists for their gentle yet effective formulation in managing skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, rashes, burns, and minor cuts.
The brand’s main ingredients – petroleum jelly, panthenol, glycerin – work together to moisturize, heal, and restore dry or compromised skin.
It doesn’t contain synthetic or harsh additives, making it a popular choice for sensitive skin types.
Vaseline: A Brief Overview
Vaseline is perhaps the most well-known brand of petroleum jelly. In fact, when people think of petroleum jelly, they think of Vaseline.
It has been around since 1872, advertised as “Wonder Jelly” for its healing properties.
Unlike Aquaphor, which comprises 41% petroleum jelly, Vaseline contains 100% triple-purified petroleum jelly. It’s commonly used to treat dry, cracked, chapped, and irritated skin.
And since it’s made from pure petroleum jelly, it creates a protective barrier that shields the skin from water and other environmental elements so it can focus on healing the skin.
Alongside the original Vaseline with no additives or extra ingredients, Vaseline also offers lotions and moisturizers, lip care products, gels, oils, and body creams.
These products still use petroleum jelly as their base ingredient but contain other additives like glycerin, aloe, cocoa oil, and vitamin E for extra hydration and nourishment.
Aquaphor vs. Vaseline: Side-by-Side Comparison
Here are the differences between Aquaphor and Vaseline:
Ingredients
Aquaphor contains additional ingredients not found in Vaseline, which act as additional moisturizers and skin protectants.
- Petrolatum (41%): Skin protectant that moisturizes and heals dry skin.
- Mineral oil: Soothes, treats, and prevents dry, scaly, and rough skin.
- Lanolin alcohol: Derived from sheep’s wool; helps hydrate and soften the skin.
- Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5): Moisturizes and helps improve skin softness.
- Glycerin: Draws moisture to the skin for hydration.
- Bisabolol: Soothes irritated skin and reduces redness.
These ingredients turn Aquaphor into a breathable ointment, making it a lot easier to use on the skin and face.
It absorbs fairly quickly and since it’s water-soluble (due to the inclusion of glycerin) it’s light on the skin.
It still feels a bit greasy because petroleum jelly is its main ingredient, but it isn’t overly heavy or sticky.
Meanwhile, Vaseline contains only one ingredient: triple-purified petroleum jelly.
The term ‘triple-purified’ refers to petroleum jelly that has undergone a purification process three times to remove impurities and contaminants, resulting in a smooth, clean product with minimal risk of irritation.
Due to this, Vaseline is less likely to cause swelling or redness when used for treating wounds.
This is backed by a study published in 2013, where dermatologists used Aquaphor and Vaseline on a postoperative wound following a skin procedure.
Around 30% of people who used Aquaphor experienced redness and swelling around the wound, while only 9% experienced the same with Vaseline.
Texture
I’m extremely choosy when it comes to the feel of products on my skin. If it’s too greasy, sticky, or heavy, it’s an immediate dealbreaker.
Both Aquaphor and Vaseline use petroleum jelly as their main ingredient, so I expected the greasiness that comes with the application.
However, Aquaphor is a lot less thick than Vaseline. It has a spreadable texture similar to an ointment or a hydrating cream, so you can use it every day without your skin feeling too heavy or oily.
The same can’t be said for Vaseline. Vaseline has a thick, greasy texture, giving it an occlusive and barrier-like feel. This makes it less ideal for daily use as it can feel sticky and heavy.
It’s best used overnight to give your skin a deep hydration boost or in areas that need extra moisture and protection from the elements, such as elbows, knees, and feet.
Alternatively, you can purchase a Vaseline moisturizer like the Intensive Care Calm Healing Lotion.
It still contains petroleum jelly, but it also has other ingredients that make it lighter and suitable for daily use. The lotion is rich but spreadable and absorbs quickly on the skin.
Moisturizing Properties
Many people consider Vaseline a moisturizer, but that’s not entirely correct.
Vaseline is occlusive, meaning that it creates a physical barrier on top of the skin to keep it hydrated and moist.
It doesn’t absorb into the skin like Aquaphor; it just sits on top to prevent further water loss and lock in hydration.
Therefore, Vaseline isn’t the best choice for people with acne as it can potentially cause breakouts.
Aquaphor isn’t a true moisturizer either since it relies on petroleum, but it does offer partial moisturizing properties thanks to its additional ingredients.
Still, it shouldn’t replace your regular moisturizer. Both brands should be treated as an add-on to your skincare routine.
They work best when applied after your moisturizer so they can seal in that hydration, resulting in a glowy, radiant complexion.
Price
Vaseline and Aquaphor are both budget-friendly skincare options for those looking to treat dry, cracked, and/or compromised skin.
Vaseline is a lot more pocket-friendly than Aquaphor, however, with options to buy the original in bulk.
For example, a 100 ml container of Vaseline costs just under $6, while an 8 ml tube of Aquaphor costs $10.
Vaseline’s body lotions are also cheaper than Aquaphor; a pack of three Advanced Repair Body Lotions (20.3 oz each) costs around $20 compared to Aquaphor’s Healing Ointment Skin Care Set (14 oz jar + 1.75 oz tub) costs around $30.
Final Thoughts
Aquaphor and Vaseline are skincare brands that treat and protect dry, cracked, and damaged skin.
They both use petroleum as their primary ingredient, with the main difference being that Aquaphor uses only 41% petroleum jelly, while Vaseline uses 100%.
Generally, if you’re looking for intense, long-lasting protection in harsh conditions, Vaseline is the better choice.
Meanwhile, Aquaphor is more suited for conditions like eczema or diaper rash, as it contains soothing ingredients like panthenol and bisabolol.
It’s also ideal for people with sensitive skin as its lighter formula absorbs more quickly.
Do you have a favorite between Aquaphor and Vaseline? Let me know in the comments below!